Background

MRI induced heating on PM leads is a very complex issue. The widely varying results described in literature suggest that there are many factors that influence the degree of heating and that not always are adequately addressed by existing testing methods.

Methods

We present a wide database of experimental measurements of the heating of metallic wires and PM leads in a 1.5 T RF coil. The aim of these measurements is to systematically quantify the contribution of some potential factors involved in the MRI induced heating: the length and the geometric structure of the lead; the implant location within the body and the lead path; the shape of the phantom used to simulate the human trunk and its relative position inside the RF coil.

Results

We found that the several factors are the primary influence on heating at the tip. Closer locations of the leads to the edge of the phantom and to the edge of the coil produce maximum heating. The lead length is the other crucial factor, whereas the implant area does not seem to have a major role in the induced temperature increase. Also the lead structure and the geometry of the phantom revealed to be elements that can significantly modify the amount of heating.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the factors that have significant effects on MRI induced heating of implanted wires and leads. These factors must be taken into account by those who plan to study or model MRI heating of implants. Also our data should help those who wish to develop guidelines for defining safe medical implants for MRI patients. In addition, our database of the entire set of measurements can help those who wish to validate their numerical models of implants that may be exposed to MRI systems.

Background

The evaluation, verification and comparison of different numerical heart models are difficult without a commonly available database that could be utilized as a reference. Our aim was to compile an exemplary dataset.

Methods

The following methods were employed: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of heart and torso, Body Surface Potential Maps (BSPM) and MagnetoCardioGraphy (MCG) maps. The latter were recorded simultaneously from the same individuals a few hours after the MRI sessions.

Results

A training dataset is made publicly available; datasets for blind testing will remain undisclosed.

Conclusions

While the MRI data may provide a common input that can be applied to different numerical heart models, the verification and comparison of different models can be performed by comparing the measured biosignals with forward calculated signals from the models.

Background

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a standard imaging modality for identification of plaque formation in the coronary and peripheral arteries. Volumetric three-dimensional (3D) IVUS visualization provides a powerful tool to overcome the limited comprehensive information of 2D IVUS in terms of complex spatial distribution of arterial morphology and acoustic backscatter information. Conventional 3D IVUS techniques provide sub-optimal visualization of arterial morphology or lack acoustic information concerning arterial structure due in part to low quality of image data and the use of pixel-based IVUS image reconstruction algorithms. In the present study, we describe a novel volumetric 3D IVUS reconstruction algorithm to utilize IVUS signal data and a shape-based nonlinear interpolation.

Methods

We developed an algorithm to convert a series of IVUS signal data into a fully volumetric 3D visualization. Intermediary slices between original 2D IVUS slices were generated utilizing the natural cubic spline interpolation to consider the nonlinearity of both vascular structure geometry and acoustic backscatter in the arterial wall. We evaluated differences in image quality between the conventional pixel-based interpolation and the shape-based nonlinear interpolation methods using both virtual vascular phantom data and in vivo IVUS data of a porcine femoral artery. Volumetric 3D IVUS images of the arterial segment reconstructed using the two interpolation methods were compared.

Background

In some cases, it may be necessary to combine distinct finite element meshes into a single system. The present work describes a scheme for coupling a finite element mesh, which may have curvilinear elements, to a voxel based finite element mesh.

Methods

The method is described with reference to a sample problem that involves combining a heart, which is defined by a curvilinear mesh, with a voxel based torso mesh. The method involves the creation of a temporary (scaffolding) mesh that couples the outer surface of the heart mesh to a voxel based torso mesh. The inner surface of the scaffolding mesh is the outer heart surface, and the outer surface of the scaffolding mesh is defined by the nodes in the torso mesh that are nearest (but outside of) the heart. The finite element stiffness matrix for the scaffolding mesh is then computed. This stiffness matrix includes extraneous nodes that are then removed, leaving a coupling matrix that couples the original outer heart surface nodes to adjacent nodes in the torso voxel mesh. Finally, a complete system matrix is assembled from the pre-existing heart stiffness matrix, the heart/torso coupling matrix, and the torso stiffness matrix.

Results

Realistic body surface electrocardiograms were generated. In a test involving a dipole embedded in a spherical shell, relative error of the scheme rapidly converged to slightly over 4%, although convergence thereafter was relatively slow.

Conclusion

The described method produces reasonably accurate results and may be best suited for problems where computational speed and convenience have a higher priority than very high levels of accuracy.

Background

Bioartificial liver systems, designed to support patients with liver failure, are composed of bioreactors and functional hepatocytes. Immunological rejection of the embedded hepatocytes by the host immune system is a serious concern that crucially degrades the performance of the device. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are considered a desirable source for bioartificial liver systems, because patient-derived iPS cells are free from immunological rejection. The purpose of this paper was to test the feasibility of a bioartificial liver system with iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells.

Methods

Mouse iPS cells were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells by a multi-step differentiation protocol via embryoid bodies and definitive endoderm. Differentiation of iPS cells was evaluated by morphology, PCR assay, and functional assays. iPS cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells were cultured in a bioreactor module with a pore size of 0.2 μm for 7 days. The amount of albumin secreted into the circulating medium was analyzed by ELISA. Additionally, after a 7-day culture in a bioreactor module, cells were observed by a scanning electron microscope.

Results

At the final stage of the differentiation program, iPS cells changed their morphology to a polygonal shape with two nucleoli and enriched cytoplasmic granules. Transmission electron microscope analysis revealed their polygonal shape, glycogen deposition in the cytoplasm, microvilli on their surfaces, and a duct-like arrangement. PCR analysis showed increased expression of albumin mRNA over the course of the differentiation program. Albumin and urea production was also observed. iPS-Heps culture in bioreactor modules showed the accumulation of albumin in the medium for up to 7 days. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the attachment of cell clusters to the hollow fibers of the module. These results indicated that iPS cells were differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells after culture for 7 days in a bioreactor module with a pore size of 0.2 μm.

Conclusion

We consider the combination of a bioreactor module with a 0.2-μm pore membrane and embedded hepatocytes differentiated from iPS cells to be a promising option for bioartificial liver systems. This paper provides the basic concept and preliminary data for an iPS cell-oriented bioartificial liver system.

Background

The geometry of the vessels is easy to assess in novel 3D studies. It has significant influence on flow patterns and this way the evolution of vascular pathologies such as aneurysms and atherosclerosis. It is essential to develop robust system for vascular anatomy measurement and digital description allowing for assessment of big numbers of vessels.

Methods

A semiautomatic, robust, integrated method for vascular anatomy measurements and mathematical description are presented. Bezier splines of 6th degree and continuity of C3 was proposed and distribution of control points was dependent on local radius. Due to main interest of our institution, the system was primarily used for the assessment of the geometry of the intracranial arteries, especially the first Medial Cerebral Artery division.

Results

Conclusions

In difference to other described solution all proposed methodology steps were integrated allows analysis of variability of geometrical parameters among big number of Medial Cerebral Artery bifurcations using single application. This allows for determination of significant trends in the parameters variability with age and in contrary almost no differences between men and women.

Background

Decellularized animal organs have been used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. To make a properly functioning scaffolds, the extracellular matrix (ECM) components must be preserved after decellularization. Because pulsatile flow is known to be beneficial for tissue perfusion, pulsatile perfusion of a detergent might decrease the exposure time of the tissues to the detergent used for decellularization. Using Energy Equivalent Pressure (EEP) as a pulsatility parameter, the effect of pulsatile flow in decellularization process is studied.

Results

Twelve rat hearts were decellularization with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution for 2 h. They are divided into two groups, one with pulsatile perfusion (n = 6), the other with non-pulsatile perfusion (n = 6) of SDS. The initial mean perfusion pressures were same in both group. The result indicated that the EEP and the perfusion flow were increased significantly in the pulsatile group compared to the non-pulsatile group. Photographs taken during the decellularization showed more profound decellularization in the pulsatile group. The residual DNA content in the scaffolds was significantly lower in the pulsatile group. However, the level of ECM components, collagen and GAG showed no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusions

Decellularization is more efficient in pulsatile flow than in non-pulsatile flow but still preserves the ECM molecules.

Background

During hydrous ethanol production from the sugar refinery industry in Mexico, vinasse is generated. Phenolic compounds and melanoidins contribute to its color and make degradation of the vinasse a difficult task. Although anaerobic digestion (AD) is feasible for vinasse treatment, the presence of recalcitrant compounds can be toxic or inhibitory for anaerobic microorganism. Therefore, this study presents new data on the coupled of the FBR (Fluidized Bed Bioreactor) to the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor under non-sterile conditions by T. versicolor. Nevertheless, for an industrial application, it is necessary to evaluate the performance in this kind of proposal system.

Results

Therefore, this study used a FBR for the removal of phenolic compounds (67%) and COD (38%) at non-sterile conditions. Continuous operation of the FBR was successfully for 26 days according to the literature. When the FBR was coupled to the UASB reactor, we obtained a better quality of effluent, furthermore methane content and yield were 74% and 0.18 m3 CH4/ kg CODremoval respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the possibility of using for an industrial application the coupled of the FBR to the UASB reactor under non-sterile conditions. Continuous operation of the FBR was carried out successfully for 26 days, which is the highest value found in the literature.